Lady Arse

Friday, September 3, 2010

Arshavin admits he isn't Mr. Sparkle

The interlull is, as you know, upon us. That being the case I'm taking the chance to have a few days 'off' so to speak.

Here's a quick round up of what's going on - it isn't much:

Andrei has been talking about how he has lost his sparkle (does anyone else think of the Simpsons and Mr Sparkle? Just me then? OK). I don't think there are many who would argue with Arshavin that he has struggled to find any sort of form for quite some time, but as I mentioned after the match at the weekend he is at least putting in the effort. The form will return, it's the laziness we don't like to see.

It seems the FA have decided to piss themselves laughing at Pulis's complaint and have once again decided that Wenger has no case to answer after yet another frivolous action brought by a no-mark manager looking to feed off some Wenger-glory. Isn't there anything that can be done about these clubs and their managers who take exception at the stupidest things and start hurling all sorts of accusations at our manager, most of which stick (in the minds of the public at least)? You do get the impression that Wenger couldn't give two fucks for what the public think so perhaps I am more outraged on his behalf than he can be bothered being.

Fair enough I suppose.

Today/tonight will see 16 Arsenal players in action. All pray to your relevant gods that they return in one piece, fit an able to self-destruct in the second international round of matches next week.

Told you it was quick.

Until tomorrow.

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LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.21

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

We will have a mid-season 'winner' - so whoever is top of the league on December 31st will win a Tshirt. The league will continue on from then, so all points won up until December 31st will carry forward and the overall winner will be announced the day after our last league match. The winner will receive a LadyArse Goodie Bag, which is far better than it sounds (and you can all waste some time speculating what will be in it). Second and third place will also get prizes, so there is all to play for.

The rules are as they've always been. The funniest caption will get three points, the second funniest one and the league table will be published with Friday's blog every week. That's 28 points up for grabs every week of the season and you will find the picture published at 12pm GMT every day. As always, if you post as Anon and don't include a name Anon will get the points and you'll have no chances of getting a prize.

It's worth noting that once I've allocated the points for the week and published the league I won't be considering any new entries for those captions. You can still post them, but you won't get any points.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Nasri, Bendtner, Wenger and Barca - an Arsenal round-up

Uber-quickie today folks - interlull, sunshine and all that.

Theo Walcott's goal against Blackpool was the fastest of the month at Arsenal coming in at 11 minutes and 52 seconds. I mention this for no other reason than it is nice to see an 'early' goal in our first home match of the season after taking around six months to score in the first 15 last season and only managing to do it about twice.

Somebody's eating their weetabix.

The Arsenal squad was finally released about five hours after I posted yesterday's blog so I'm glad I didn't wait. I trust you all got a giggle from the fact that we listed every single u21 at the club, or so it seemed. Did we do it just to make a mockery of the whole thing? Was that the same reason we ordered our '25' (which was really only 20) in such a way as to have seven home-grown players, not one of whom was English? I like to think it was. especially given the tizzy half the media seem to have gotten themselves in to over the fact we have no English payers (note to media - read the WHOLE list, not just the 20)

Out of all the squads submitted, you'd have to think that ours has the best blend of talent, skill, and ability to play as a team.

Biased? Of course I am.

Not wanting to jinx him of course but it seems Nasri is ahead of schedule and back in training only two weeks after his knee surgery and may even be in contention for a return against Bolton on September 11th.

On the flip side, as regular readers will know, the injury hokey kokey must claim someone for itself lest the universe implode and it seems that Nik's return from injury has become somewhat of a mystery. Expected back any time now by Arsenal, his father has been speaking about how he is not sure when he will return. If I remember correctly he was only supposed to miss the first match of the season and there are now rumours he could be out until the new year if you are to believe the Danish FA. So, to clarify, Arsenal are saying/have said around about September 11th, Bendtner senior is saying two months, and the Danish FA are saying next year.

Clear?

On a bit of a 'paranoid Pete' point, just to follow on the discussions we've had regarding Wenger and his coverage by the majority of the media, could this be another example? - both Arsene and Ferguson played exactly the same role in helping Birmingham sign Alex Hleb. Guess who gets named in the headline as Birmingham's little helper?

Just saying.

Finally, a whopping two days after the window has shut and Barcelona are sniffing around again. Technical Director, Andoni Zubizarreta, has said:

"Both the club and the player did as much as possible. Our second offer was €40m. However, from the moment Arsenal said they didn’t want to negotiate, we respected their position.

"We would have liked to have signed him but we weren’t able to negotiate. It wasn’t a disappointment, as it was simply impossible.

"Thanks to the conversations, we have re-established contact with Arsenal though."

They respected us? Just how exactly?

Blah, I'm not starting this again, it's far too nice a day.

Until tomorrow.

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.20

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

To err is human, to flap divine - Arsenal keepers ahead of the curve

I trust we all made it through the night ok? With the depth of despair which was in evidence on yesterday's comments I would be lying if I said I thought that all of you would make it through without self-harming in some way, perhaps by signing up to become members of the Chavs (north or south division), Spuds or something else equally as pointless.

There was, you could say, something of an over-reaction from many Arsenal fans yesterday. Of course it was disappointing, and, for the most part unexplainable that we didn't buy a keeper, but we didn't. Threatening to 'never return to the Emirates until we buy a goalkeeper' is just about the stupidest thing, after all what about the players, the team, you know, that thing that makes Arsenal Arsenal? Do they deserve to be ostracised simply because you don't agree with Wenger or can't understand his thinking?

As for the abuse aimed at Wenger you'd be forgiven for thinking he was actually a double-agent tasked with making sure Arsenal existed as nothing more than a spot of shit on 'Arry's shoe.

We all know it's the other way around.

I trust we have all also found a little perspective? We ARE stronger than last year, we CAN'T possibly have the same number of injuries and there is NO way Almunia can be as bad.

Good stuff for the majority of you ask me.

With more and more goalkeepers delivering more and more woeful performances I am going to look at it as once again Arsenal are simply ahead of the curve, doing things first while waiting for others to catch up.

To err is human, to flap, divine.

It's all about how you look at things people, and this is one blogger who is fed up worrying about our goalkeeper. Acceptance is what is needed. Mistakes will be made, it is up to the keeper to ensure they are at a minimum, and the rest of the team to protect him, defend as a whole, and score more goals.

Simple.

News today is quite light on the ground. We had the official submissions of all the 25-man squads, though not all of them have made it to the various media-outlets in time for the writing of this. I guess this is as good a time as any to have a look at how we finally line up (at the time of posting the official Arsenal squad has not been announced and I am aware that some of the under-21 players will need to be named in our squad to make up the home-grown numbers, I'm just working with the players we've got):

Goalkeepers: Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone

Verdict: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Seriously though, I'm throwing my hat behind Al finding the form of two years ago, and while that will still never be world-class, it will be 'good enough.' Positivity people - POSITIVETY!

Defenders: Clichy, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Squillaci, Eboue, Gibbs, Djourou

Verdict: Better than last year so that can only be a good thing.

Midfield: Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Arshavin

Verdict: Best midfield in England? Quite possibly.

Forwards: Van Persie, Walcott, Bendtner, Vela, Chamakh

Verdict: The inclusion of Chamakh should make VP's repeated absences easier to swallow, Theo is on fire and Vela looks as if he's grown-up a little. All-in-all a very good forward line.

Additional (under 21 on August 31st 2010)
Szczesny, Ramsey, Wilshere, Emmanuel-Thomas, Eastmond, Lansbury, Nordtveit, Miquel

u21 players who will be over 21 or over by next squad submission on January 31st:

Ramsey

So as you can see, we're in great shape to hit the 25-target with Ramsey fitting in to the 25 when over 21 and still with room to bring in another player in January if needed (maybe more if we've picked up our usual 'out-for-the-season' injury quota).

So how do you think we look ahead of the rest of the season? How do you think we will do? I know we've discussed this before, but that was always with the possibility that some new faces might come in. Now we know that isn't the case I think we're looking pretty healthy (for now).

Discuss.

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.19

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Window closes and Arsenal fans are flat

Deadline day, like for everyone, drives me crazy. The truth is though I've secretly grown to love it - the hype and hysteria over absolutely nothing. The desperate fans clinging to any truth they can find in the silliest of rumours, and the refusal to move away from the TV 'just in case' even though the window closed six hours before (there can be delays, backlogs, all manner of reasons the announcement is taking it's time - remember Arshavin, five weeks later we heard about that).

At around 1.30pm the hearts of gooners everywhere sunk. Fulham had announced that Schwarzer would be going nowhere in this window. By the time the next one rolls around it might be too late so he'll never get the chance to be an Arsenal player. He was our best last hope for salvation.

He is an Aussie who is 38 and won nothing.

That's where we hung our hopes.

So is it the 'end of days' simply because we haven't signed a new keeper? Some might say yes, some might say no. Me, I'm going to say no. Why? Because I'm optimistic like that.

At around 4.30 hope was reignited as news started to spread through Twitter that Fulham had made an offer for Roma keeper Doni. About ten minutes later SSN went to Fulham for the first time and reported that not only would no keeper be leaving, they would not be signing any keepers either. A double fuck-off Arsenal.

There was no hope left with only 90 minutes of window-time remaining.

So, at the time of writing, the window is closed and we are as we were. Let's look at some positives:

There is no way Almunia can be as bad as he was last season.

We have defenders who seem to know what they are doing more than usual.

We have a team that is defending from all over the pitch.

We are blocking more shots than we usually do.

Should all these things continue, we might just be ok in the goalkeeping department.

I would like to know why we didn't buy anyone though (if that turns out to be the way it is).

I'm not going to go ranting. I've wanted a new keeper since Jens was ousted. You know my opinions on this and bitching about it now won't change, there'll be plenty of time for bitching as goal after goal is flapped in. A season of heart-attcks at crosses and corners awaits.

Yippee.

In other news Nacer Barazite joined Vitesse Arnham on a year-long loan while Traore went to Juventus for £500,000 and a £2.5m option to buy at the end of the year. I was expecting more news than this, especially on the loan front. One player who was widely expected to leave on loan was Henri Lansbury but as he was withdrawn from the England U21 squad with a groin injury that didn't happen and he will have to wait until Janaury for another chance.

Arsenal have confirmed none of the above, perhaps they'll do it when announcing our new keeper?

There were some rumours that quite a few clubs had enquired about the JET but Arsene wanted to keep him around the first team squad which is good news for a player I am really looking forward to watching develop.

I'm feeling a bit flat if I'm honest so I'll wrap it up there. I'm trying to work out how best to deal with the hope that still lingers on that it'll just be a late announcement, but we've got our keeper.

Deluded huh?

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.18

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Monday, August 30, 2010

Further proof of Wenger's class in the wake of Redknapp's tirade

Yesterday's blog dealt with, in part, the way Arsene interacts with the media and how he gets treated for being tolerant and respectful of all journalists.

More than once in the past week (on Twitter) I have commented about my frustration at the amount of coverage the Spuds have been getting on Sky Sports. Every time I turned on Sky Sports News there was 'Arry or Spuds players scoring Spuds goals. I was sick looking at them and they were definitely flavour of the week while'Arry it seems was the 'manager of the moment.' Now, with their defeat to Wigan they seem to have gone all quiet. In fact, so quiet has the coverage been that if you hadn't seen the match of the highlights you would be completely oblivious to the boos which greeted the Spuds when the final whistle was sounded.

Now, when you bear in mind that almost every time Arsenal are on TV and Eboue is brought on or off as a substitute the commentators reference his booing, funnily enough also against Wigan, you'd wonder why a team who had qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history and had made it in to the top European competition for the first time in 50 years would have fans who could be so easily angered. Then you see their manager. You know him, that loveable cockney chap, everyone's mate. Except he isn't.

Having obviously attended the same media classes as Ferguson this was his response when a journalist mentioned he was known as a 'wheeler and dealer' (apologies of you've already seen this, but is it not worth a second look?)

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the 'wheeler and dealer' image was one that 'Arry cultivated while at 'lesser' clubs? Regardless. That's not the issue. The issue is this. Can you imagine the press reaction if that had been Wenger? And, let's face it, Wenger gets asked far more insulting questions than this.

The press's reaction to this downright ignorance and nastiness? Let's ignore it.

Why? Well, because it's 'Arry innit?

It drives me insane. I know there are some of you who say just ignore it, but I don't want to. Why the hell should I? How does ignoring it make it better or make it stop?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

I don't think I can change anything, but as Margaret Mead also said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." So you just never know. If everyone ignores everything that is wrong in the world, how do we enact change? My mum has always asked me 'why does it need to you rocking the boat and saying things?' My response always has, and always will be 'if not me then who? If everyone said 'It's got nothing to do with me' where would that leave the rest of the world?

All the examples which apply to the 'real world' are so extreme as to seem a little bit ridiculous when placed alongside the right of the Arsenal manager to be treated like every other manager in the country - racism, women's right, gay rights etc, but the same principle applies - if no-one speaks out and says they find any sort of discrimination disgusting, then discrimination will continue, and usually worsen.

So you ignore it if you want to. Personally, the ability to effect change should not come in to it - if something angers you, you should make that known.

This fucking angers me.

I am sick of seeing our manager, who has never done anything but be courteous and hospitable to the press of this country used as the regular whipping boy by the media while ignorant cnuts like Redknapp, Ferguson, Hughes, Pulis, Brown and Allardyce to name just six are treated like royalty.

Rant over. For now anyway. (I've just given invitation to a load of Spud trolls with this haven't I? I forgot about them until I'd finished)

In transfer news we had another whole day of 'will he won't he' regarding Schwarzer with people making up all sorts of nonsense. One thing which could very well scupper any potential deal is the injury to Fulham's stand-in keeper Stockdale. Basically, this is a last-minute job - if it happens. I do wish for once, if it's not going to happen Arsenal just come out and say 'we're finished' rather than having to sit glued to Sky Sports Hype in the vain hope that something might be announced four hours after the window has officially closed. The news that Given is set for a Man City stay finding that his principles and desire to play football only applied until he was offered more money, could also scupper any deal for Arsenal to get Schwarzer.

'Tis crazy, though not unexpected, that it has come to this.

There were rumours floating around that Juventus were after Traore which was just surreal and then reality kicked in with the news that Birmingham have made an enquiry regarding a loan deal. Personally I can't see him having a future at the club so if any loan deal is agreed I'd be very surprised if it didn't come with an 'option.'

Other than that there is no sign of movement (whispers starting to gather pace that it will be Schwarzer plus one, see Twitter feature below for more info, transfer rumours from reliable sources but I doubt it), but that doesn't mean things aren't happening. There are quite a few 'kids' who could still be going out on loan, and Wenger had already said that one of our keepers will be going out on loan (and probably one will be sold if we buy MS) so tomorrow shall be fun. I do love deadline day, it's a whole day of getting excited about the stupidest of things, and I know a lot of people hate it, but I find if you just get in to the spirit of the whole thing it can be a real laugh.

Finally, in case you haven't noticed, the player profile pages on Arsenal.com have been totally revamped and actually provide some decent information, such as:

Did you know that is Sagna hadn't been a footballer he'd have been an architect? Or that he is the best chess player in the Arsenal squad? Perhaps you'd be delighted to know that Almunia met his wife in an Irish pub, or that Emmanuel Eboue doesn't have a middle name? That's the sort of stuff you'll find there, along with details of previous clubs, links to videos and pictures of that player and some other stuff including some useful (if not extensive) stats.

It's a good improvement.

I shall be on Twitter all day tomorrow, poised to bring you updates as they break. Make sure you follow me if you don't want to miss out.

Today's interesting stuff from Twitter:
RT @arsenalmania: Why Laurent Koscielny is a proper centre back, by Joel Che http://is.gd/eL1Mk
RT @JamieDalton82: Schwarzer + 1 is the new rumour doing the rounds. Young, unknown striker from Ligue 1
RT @DarrenArsenal1: So Luis Fabiano turns down Spurs and stays with Seville.....Harry must be so upset that EVERY player has turned him down
RT @Orbinho: ON THIS ARSENAL DAY 1930 Arsenal beat Blackpool 4-1 away on the opening day of their 1st English title-winning season. Bastin & Jack 2 each.

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.17

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Stoke and their unnatural obsession with Arsenal

So is Tony Pulis obsessed with Arsene Wenger or is it love? What has the Stoke fans signing nothing else but songs about Wenger when at an away match against CHELSEA?

He has reported Arsenal to the FA and the Premier League for Wenger's comments regarding their style of 'football.' I could go and get some stats that back Wenger up, but I can't be bothered, you all know they prefer to use their hands than their feet (unless they're kicking other players).

Perhaps it is simply the manifestation of 'little man' complex (and little club complex) but whatever it is they have really out done themselves this time.

It seems that they can say what they like about us, but dare we mention them? Watch out! After all, remember when Pulis said Wenger could 'keep his opinions' when talking about Shawcross immediately after he Eduardo'd Ramsey? Wenger isn't allowed opinions you know.

Why is it acceptable for managers such as Pulis, O'Neill, Hughes, Ferguson, Allardyce and Brown to say whatever the hell they like about Wenger, but when he dares utter a word about the thuggery which their teams employ he is the devil incarnate.

If you want some indication of Pulis's (alleged) delusional state, apart from the fact that Shawcross is not only in his team but also his captain, you just have to look at the fact they want £10m for Begovic.

Seriously.

Get. A. Fucking. Grip.

Wenger originally said “When you see how Shawcross kicked Gomes, how Huth pushed Gomes in the goal, you cannot say that’s football anymore. You cannot have players whose main role is to stop the goalkeepers from catching the ball and not even go for the ball.” We know why he said it, it had nothing to do with Stoke and everything to do with Blackburn. Do you think an issue would have been made if Ferguson had've said it?

So they are suing us for the slur on the character of their captain Ryan Shawcross (and some other frivolous lawsuit as they bid to become this years Hull). If daring to say the serial leg-breaker kicked someone is an assault on his character then you need to quit being so goddam touchy. If he's breathing it's a safe bet he's kicking someone and what Wenger got wrong was that Shawcross's lack of ability to execute a tackle properly, and the recklessness with which he plays would not be tolerated on the rugby pitch.

Is anyone else terrified of going to the Britannia later in the season for the damage that those thugs are likely to inflict? Let's remember, their captain is the man who shattered Aaron Ramsey's leg - his third leg break. This is the man who only last week almost ripped Gareth Bale's calf from his leg with his studs while making no attempt to play the ball, the man who was lucky not to break the ex-25's ankle, off the pitch, and who, by all reports put in another 'clumsy' tackle yesterday to give away a penalty. This is a man who doesn't think he needs to change his game as he does nothing wrong.

To accuse him of merely kicking someone is actually doing his fucking character a solid.

Let me ask you something. Is there any other manager in the league who affords such courtesy to ALL media representatives? And is there any other manager who comes in for a quarter of the criticism compared to Wenger? Fuck them all and just give interviews to Arsenal TV.

To be fair, all the journalists on Sunday Supplement, for the main part, stuck up for Arsene. Martin Samuel said he was surprised Pulis hadn't phoned the police as he'd phoned just about everyone else while Patrick Barclay said he watched the Stoke v Spuds match and came to the same conclusions as Arsene and was glad he brought it up. Patrick Barclay, was, of course, the best of the lot, finishing the segment by saying he would far rather football was run by Wenger's rules than anyone else's. He also pointed out, for anyone that cared to listen after they'd parroted the line regarding Wenger's red card record that most of Arsenal's red cards were for retaliating to bad challenges and Arsenal were never a dirty team. The fact that we've sat top or near it in the fair play league for approximately the last five years (2008/2009 was a blip) seems to pass most people by as well (I didn't realise you get £30,000 for winning it - so we have won something in the last five years ha!)

But let's not lose sight of the big issue here folks and get lost in that mini-media love-in. Leg breaking good, mild comments regarding physicality BAD. Paedophile chants funny, personal opinion of Arsenal manager the spawn of satan. Alex Ferguson irritable, ignorant and nasty but beyond reproach. Wenger accessible, friendly, courteous so open for slaughter on a weekly basis.

For the majority of managers, fans, and journalists, Wenger will continue to be an easy target but that shows their ignorance of what he has done to help make this the best league in the World.

We know that at least.

If you'd read Allardyce's comments last week about Arsene not being the type of man to share a drink with other managers post-match because, well, he's a stuck-up foreigner (I might have paraphrased but you know that's what he meant) then have a read at the last paragraph here.

Holloway, once again, shows that to be an English manager you don't have to be an enormous, Fergie-wannabe twat.

Interesting from Twitter (I'm thinking of making this a regular bit in the blog, opinions on that appreciated, I know a lot of you love the stats):

RT @YoungGunsBlog: Blackburn fans sang "Aren’t you supposed to be in Spain" to Cesc. Gooners sang back "aren't you supposed to be in The Championship". Class.

RT @CaptainArsenal: Henry Scores His First Goal in #MLS - New York Times http://viigo.im/4FpP

RT @vieirasboots: I'm no big fan of Rugby but it doesn't deserve thug cunts like Shawcross associated with it's sport

RT @Goonerific Harry has a lot to learn on dealing with the pressure&his team are kidding themselves if they think the hard part is over.

RT @JamieDalton82: Good to see Lineker and Shearer nailing that cock Hansen

RT @Orbinho: Alex Song completed 70 of the 81 passes he attempted (86%)

RT @JamieDalton82: Shay Given is expected in London tomorrow to speak with Fulham about a loan move.

RT @Orbinho: Theo Walcott has converted 36% of his chances so far. The league average for forwards is 16%.

RT @Orbinho: FT Stats Blackburn-Arsenal Shots 14-12 On target 3-4 Corners 4-7 Possession 36%-64% Passing accuracy 66%-80% Duels Won % 45%-55%

RT @Orbinho: Abou Diaby completed 61 out of 68 passes - 90% - the best of the starters. Tomas Rosicky completed all 11 when he came on.

RT @modgooner: @RobbieSavage8 Arsenal fans were singing "yor just a fat robbie savage"to salgado yesterday haha genius

That's your lot for today, me and my LadyFlu are away back to bed. Perhaps I can sleep the interlull away?

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.16

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Theo shines once again as Arsenal down Blackburn

I don't know what all the fuss was about do you? Let's be fair about this from the out-set, Blackburn played well. They worked hard and actually looked to play football rather than kick us which was a nice refreshing change.

But so did we. I said at half-time, when the score was 1-1 that we would find out how much this team wanted the title.

They showed they did.

We stood up, sure we had our wobbles, but for the most part we withstood the storm. Almunia looked as if he had taken some 'Jens' pills as he squared up to Diouf, and generally (I'm not going to be critical of him today when he showed more aggression than he has done in years) did everything we should be expecting from him and looked relatively assured while doing it. At the back Kos and Verm had a few wobbly moments and Clichy went awol on more than one occasion.

The difference? We defended from all over the pitch and closed from the front. At times even Arshavin was back helping out. We managed to hold on to a one-goal lead for 39 minutes. When was the last time that happened?

Of course, it wasn't all roses and wonder. Cesc looked decidedly rusty, Clichy ditto, Diaby was a bit hit and miss, Almunia still doesn't really know when to come at corners, our full-backs get far too narrow, and VP got injured.

Not that we didn't see that coming a mile off.

From the start we were clearly up for the match. Most were disappointed to see TR7 dropped to the bench as his performances recently have warranted a starting birth. With Theo starting many wondered if he would be able to reproduce his form from last week and he quickly showed he could.

It is clear that he has worked very, very hard over the summer and he deserves huge credit for that. No longer is he forgetting to take the ball with him. He is skinning people for fun and genuinely looks like a real threat every time he is given the ball. It's superb to see, isn't it Hansen?

My observations from today:

-It is still acceptable to sing 'sit down you paedophile' yet if you were to exchange that word with the 'n' word or any other racial slur there would be total outrage (and rightly so).

-Gael Clichy seems to need to stay at least 20 yards away from his man at all times.

-Walcott literally ripped the net with his superb drive in the first half.

-We were cut open far too easily, Kos brushed aside, and Clichy was asleep for their goal.

-A keeper with the confidence to stand up for himself and sweep makes all the difference to the back line.

-It won't be long before Chamakh concedes a penalty for holding at opposition corners as Sky are already starting to highlight it despite it having been a standard tactic with Carvalho at Chelsea and Carragher at Liverpool.

-VP can play the entire world cup for the Netherlands with no ill effect yet is crippled upon his first start for Arsenal.

-Theo scored one and his ass should get the assist for Arshavin's goal.

-Blackburn were nowhere near as physical as we expected.

-Most people interpreted the fact that Al was the last off the pitch after throwing his jersey and armband in to the crowd a sign that he was saying goodbye.

-The Spuds learnt what it really means to be in the Champions League.

Highlights from Twitter:

OptaJoe:
4 - Theo Walcott has bettered his Premier League goal tally of 3 from last season in just 117 minutes of action this season. Blocks.

OptaJoe:
11 - Arsenal have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 away games in all competitions. Leaky.

Orbinho:
HT Stats Blackburn-Arsenal Shots 8-4 On target 2-2 Corners 3-5 Possession 33%-67% Passing accuracy 64%-77% Duels Won % 49%-51%

Odd stat of the game: van Persie completed as many passes in 35 minutes as Givet did in 90. (6).

Interceptions: Vermaelen 5 INT Koscielny 4 INT Diaby 3 INT Sagna and Clichy 2 INT

Passes Diaby 53/58 -- 91% Clichy 58/65 -- 89% Song 65/72 -- 90% Cesc 42/52 -- 81%

RT @YoungGunsBlog: RE Bendtner: Nick said on Mon he's out for 6 wks at least. Denmark coach been in touch, says he won't play again in 2010.

@7amkickoff:
Clearances: Vermaelen 6/8 -- 75% Clichy 7/10 -- 70% Koscielny 6/9 -- 67% Song 1/2 -- 50% Diaby 1/5 -- 20%

Bit of a disjointed blog, sorry about that. I'm loaded with Lady-flu and this is just about as much as my brain can handle. It was a great three points, and it means that we have picked up three points somewhere we didn't last year. That's progress folks.

Looking forward to your thoughts...until tomorrow when I shall hopefully be feeling better.

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.15

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

LIVE BLOG - Blackburn v Arsenal

fullscreen link here

Friday, August 27, 2010

Let's Kick On - Blackburn v Arsenal preview

Well, Arsenal.com almost made it to deadline day without mentioning that we'd signed Squillaci but seeing as Le Boss let le cat out of the bag yesterday it was refreshing to see that it only took them 20 hours to put the information on the site.

Worst. Website. EVER.

Anyways, it's officially updated, he's officially signed and we've officially cursed his Arsenal career by giving him that magical number 18 shirt which graced such centre-back legends as Cygan and Silvestre.

Bet he's thrilled.

As was mentioned yesterday he won't be in the squad to face Blackburn tomorrow which is quite a shame. Understandably, after being on strike all season he's not quite match fit, but it would have been nice to see him kick a few Blackburn players and defend our keeper who, as we know, is incapable of defending himself.

After narrowly losing up there last season, albeit without Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Rosicky, Ramsey, and Bendtner, with Arshavin only fit for the bench, Gibbs only returning from long-term injury on the bench, and a back five consisting of Eboue, Silvestre, Campbell, Traore and Fabianski, it's a wonder we only lost 2-1.

Not that I'm saying injuries were the reason we lost. Of course we should be winning matches with our second, third and in some positions fourth and fifth choice players - especially places we've struggled in seasons past. The players who played that day should be ashamed of themselves (note - sarcasm is what this is called in case you are a little bit slow).

Moving on. Some stats courtesy of @Optajoe and @Orbinho:

OJ: 56% - Blackburn have the lowest pass completion rate in the Premier League this season, whilst Arsenal have the highest (87%).

OJ: 5 - David Dunn has scored more goals (5) against Arsenal than versus any other Premier League opponent. Rover.

Orb: Sam Allardyce is unbeaten in his last seven Premier League games as a home manager against Arsenal and has won four of the last five.

Kinda gets your hopes up doesn't it?

This time, we go with a squad where everyone is fully fit except for Djourou, Ramsey, Nasri and Bendtner. I know I mentioned it yesterday, but it is such a rare occurrence, I feel it should be mentioned again, when do you remember the last time we had that few people out injured? Am I risking the wrath of the injury gods by saying that? Fuck 'em! I'm past caring.

We shall see Almunia in goal (yippee) after Fabianski was totally owned there last season. When we know they are going to barge and crowd the keeper, there's no point putting in a keeper who would rather stand behind his own line than stand up to them. Personally I'd put Chesney in and watch as he cleans off their heads when he punches everything within arm reach.

With regards to Wenger saying he wouldn't be signing anyone else, this isn't strictly an accurate reflection of what he said. He said it would be unlikely, and certainly not domestically (so that's MS officially put to bed then?). I live in hope folks, I live in hope.

At the back we will see Kos reunited with Vermaelen as Squillaci isn't ready and Djourou is, well, Djourou (i.e. he's injured). Clichy and Sagna should flank them.

Song and Cesc should be back in the middle of the park and TR7 did more than enough in the last two matches to earn his place in there alongside them. On the wings we shall probably see Arshavin and Eboue, the latter being more 'robust' (and Theo probably being kept more for an impact sub away and starter at home). That leaves one spot up front, so does it go to VP or Chamakh? Do we play them both, one out wide, and keep Eboue or Arshavin for the bench? Do we protect Chamakh from getting a 'proper' welcome to league or should that privilege go to VP who only needs a clogger to look at him and he's out for three months? Chamakh to me seems like the sturdier option. Protect VP at all costs should be our motto.

If the rumours are true (and personally I don't think they are for reasons I shall explain) that Arshavin is playing with an injury it should be him that misses out. Why I don't think the rumours are true is that he would be the only player ever to be regularly fielded by Arsene when injured. Everyone else is locked in the treatment room until six weeks after the injury has healed itself. Why would he keep playing Arshavin if he is injured? It just doesn't make any sense and is a pretty lame excuse for covering up what has been a terrible run of form (which, hopefully, seems to be turning).

With that team, or any variation given the players we have available, we should have more than enough to ease past Blackburn. It might be easy, but we could very well make it hard. I'd rather be facing them now with as close to a full compliment available as we are likely to get than at the end of the season when we are down to walking wounded and reserve reserves.

If you were wondering (because you have been on Mars for the past ten years) just what kind of game we are in for tomorrow, then perhaps we can let Fat Sam explain it to you:

"What worries me is making sure that we must not let them beat us. We must not let them use their skills and that is a big concern to us because they are one of the top teams in the country."

Wouldn't want any skill being on show now would we?

Kicky kicky.

Can't wait.

In other news there isn't any really unless you count Arshavin's plans to become a movie star as worthy of a mention. It turns out he will have a role in a film called 'I am not Arshavin.' It is described as being a lyrical sports comedy directed by Russian film-maker Ilya Shilovsky. More details can found on Arshavin's website.

Can't wait.

Don't forget there will be a live blog for tomorrow's early kick-off, and, as usually, places are limited to 25 for un-moderated spaces.

See you then, if not on the comments before.

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LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.14

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Arsenal's Champions League Draw, Injury News and Signing Confirmed

This is a quickie, thrown together in haste. You've been warned.

So the news finally came from Arsenal - we have signed Squillaci. But we already knew that didn't we? Not that you'd know it from the official site, it still hasn't been updated to show him, but Wenger confirmed it at the press conference so I'd say that was pretty reliable information.

A stat from Orbinho - Squillaci good in the air? Aerial duels won last season 60%. Terry 66% Vidic 74% Campbell 72% Vermaelen 58% Gallas 51% PL average 60%.

He will train with the team for the first time tomorrow but won't, obviously be involved in the match which means we will see Kos line up beside the Verm as he's our only other option (see later for injury news on Djourou).

The press conference, you know, the one that was to be shown 'as live' on Arsenal.com? Well it just vanished. They kept us waiting, promising us it was 'coming soon' so we waited and we waited and we waited. Then it just went dead. Was there any update on the Arsenal site? Did they in anyway let us know what was going on? Did they hell. We were, once again, just left swinging. I seriously question what I pay £3.99 for. It sure as hell isn't reliable coverage or to be treated as if I actually matter. What's my time sitting waiting worth anyway huh?

So, seeing as we couldn't watch the press conference, next up was the Champions League draw. The 'best bits' from last year was quite interesting in that they didn't show one single goal scored by an Arsenal player. Seriously. Nothing. Not one.

They did show Almunia sitting down a lot though.

How can that be? Anyway, the draw, as usual, took far too long, The awards for players of the year was, as always interesting only for the complete inability of anyone to work out how Milito had won the 'best forward' category ahead of Messi. I don't think we will ever know (bung bung). for once though we weren't wondering how Terry had won best defender.

Progress?

So, our group looks like this:

Arsenal
Shaktar
Braga
Partisan Belgrade

Common consensus on the live blog was that it was a good group. Yep, there is travelling, but we should have no problem topping that group. The stand-out from it, for me anyway, is that Eduardo will get the chance to see just how much he really means to Arsenal fans and I'm sure his reception will bring a shiver to even the hardest of hearts. It will be great to get that chance and perhaps none of us thought we would get it so early.

Stats for you regarding the teams in our group from @Orbinho:

•    Arsenal have won none and lost three of four Champions league games away from home against Ukrainian teams.
•    Arsenal have lost two and drawn one of three away games in Portugal in the Champions League.
•    Arsenal have won six and drawn one of seven home matches against Ukrainian and Portuguese teams in the Champions League
•    Arsenal lost their only previous tie against a team from Belgrade (Red Star) in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup - 1-2 on aggregate.
•    So, in summary Arsenal have never won away in any competition in any of the three countries that they have to visit in Group H.

Of course, that means nothing. As it means nothing that we were in Group H when we got all the way to the final. Past is past.

Back in the land of the Premier League we learned that Bendtner would be back playing within three to four weeks (actually, not sure if that was playing or training, but it's good to see his 'small' injury which was only supposed to keep him out for a week or two will clear by the time October arrives).

Nasri will be back not long after. Or so they say. With the Ashburton Grove Medical Centre I believe it when I see it.

Johan Djourou is not yet fully fit with his hamstrings still giving him problems but Cesc and van Persie are 'available normally' after a late start to pre-season. That means they'll be starting against Big Sam's latest bunch of thugs. Denilson will also be back and we must seriously be looking at the shortest injury list at the club for around three years.

Things might just be looking up.

That really is your lot for today. Isn't it enough? A signing and a Champions League draw? Don't be greedy.

Loads of new designs, check out www.arsenaltshirts.com for the UK and USA stores (each featuring different designs)

LadyArse Arsenal Caption Competition 3.13

So here it is folks, back for the season, and as that's a long 'aul haul I shall be breaking it up in to two competitions.

So, here's today's (if you have any pics you'd like to see featured, send them to capcomp@ladyarse.com):

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

LIVE BLOG - Champions League Draw

fullscreen link here

Where is the ITV uproar over Defoe's handball?

For anyone not watching, and wondering why I'm blogging when I've already done my bit for the day, it is because of ITV that I come to you now.

Defoe has just scored against Young Boys and in order to do so he used the most blatant and deliberate handball seen since, well, Henry I guess.

Did he know what he'd done? Of course he did, he didn't celebrate until he'd checked no-one had spotted it. I don't care that the Spuds benefited from a handball, I don't care who it was. What I care about is that it was the exact same fuckers who were commentating when Eduardo 'dived.'

It was Beglin and that other muppet who started the crusade against Eduardo which eventually drove him from our club. And how do they deal with Defoe's handball? Do they ask why he didn't own up to it like a good little professional? Did they call for cheating to be eliminated from the game, citing the destruction of our youth from idolising a bunch of over-paid idiots who think it's ok to win at any cost? Did they empathise with Young Boys?

Did they fuck. 'He got away with it' said Beglin, sounding as if he was trying to suppress a little chuckle.

It's an absolute fucking disgrace. This is beyond hypocrisy. When you think of how Eduardo is now thought of across England and Scotland (and further afield). Henry is in the US and he is still being roundly booed for a similar act when even more was at stake. It makes me sick.

What did Adrian 'what the fuck am I doing presenting a football programme anyway' Chiles say about the handball? "more than a little hint of handball in that second but there's no denying it's men against boys." I shit you not. Then the pundits spent half-time laughing about it.

Livid.

Can we expect UEFA to hand him a two-game ban for what was a yellow-card offence? Will he generate the same number of column inches and TV minutes? Will his name forever be synonymous with cheating regardless of past and future achievements? Will it fuck.

Is it simply because he's English and Henry and Eduardo aren't? Can it really be that simple? And that blatant?

Sevilla confirm Squillaci still on his way to Arsenal

There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING new today. We still haven't announced the signing of Squillaci, we still haven't made any progress on a keeper (at least not publicly at least, and we know that Fulham and Hughes wouldn't be able to keep their traps shut if we'd signed MS). We aren't linked with anyone else and news from the club is eerie in it's lack.

Most people seem to think the holdup with the Squillaci signing is that we are going to announce another along with Toto's arrival. It's a nice idea.

Personally, I think it has something to do with this leaked photo from the Ashburton Grove Medical Centre regarding who is conducting the longest medical in history:

Seriously though, Sevilla confirmed to Sky Sport News that the deal was agreed and the only thing holding up the announcement was the signing of some forms and the inability of anyone at Arsenal to locate a pen.

I suppose, to fill some space, I could mention that it seems Silvestre is off to Werder Bremen. I mention this, not because I feel an affinity to him for his 26 appearances for us, but because it is a relief. Some had said there was a possibility of him re-signing with us if we failed to find another suitable centre-back so all I can say is thank you Jebus for Werder Bremen.

Should we perhaps say sorry to them as well? Their own fault I guess.

The news that Steven Taylor was placed on the transfer list at Newcastle after failing to renegotiate his contract or come to an arrangement over a new deal might have had gunners up and down the land a little bit curious as to if we are planning to put in a bid. We have been linked with him before, but his long term injury (he's out for between two and six months depending on who you speak to) makes any signing less appealing. That being said, if he was to be guaranteed to be back in six months, he would just be fit for when all our other CB's collapse and would be suitably rested.

Can't see it though.

A great stat, courtesy of @Orbinho (and yes I know it's only two matches in) but Arsenal have allowed their opponents fewer shots against them than any other team so far (13). This is great. Not only does it show that we are working much harder to stop opponents getting shots away (a fundamental reason behind Chelsea's defence last season - they allowed fewer shots that most other teams). It also shows that we are aware that if you stop a team shooting at our keeper you stop him being able to flap it in to the net. If we get a new keeper and keep this mindset we should start to see our defence tighten up significantly. Win win if you ask me.

That is your lot for today.

Told you there was nothing, you can't say you weren't warned.

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